Preview: Huskies look to limit spread of ASU offense

It has been a tough time for the Huskies defense in 2010 when facing offenses that spread the field and work quickly. BYU stifled the D with quarterback changes and quick snaps. Nebraska had the Huskies running all over the field, trying to guess which direction the play was actually going.

Against Arizona State on Saturday, Washington will face another offense that likes to spread the field and force defenses into mistakes. The Sun Devils (2-3, 0-2) are averaging just under 35 points per game and feature an offense that ranks ninth in the nation in pass offense.

“Offensively, they run a lot of spread,” safety Nate Williams said. “They like to spread the other team out and they run their plays quick, trying to catch (the other team) in the wrong personnel.”

The good news for the Huskies is that ASU does not run the ball terribly well as a team, averaging just 4.4 yards per carry. The bad news is that the top two backs for the Sun Devils, Deantre Lewis and Cameron Marshall, have combined for almost 700 yards and nine touchdowns on 107 carries.

The low rushing total as a team is affected by non-running quarterback Steven Threet, who has just three yards on 33 rushing attempts, although those attempts are mostly not esigned run plays, but failed passing ones.

What Threet does do well, however, is throw the ball for big chunks of yardage. Threet has 1,431 yards through the air in five games, to 16 different receivers, but has also tossed 10 interceptions. The turnover-starved Huskies have an opportunity to take advantage of Threet’s tendency to toss the ball to the wrong team.

Defensively, the Sun Devils feature a fast group that is prone to giving up big plays, but also to forcing short drives. ASU’s defense is fourth in the nation with 21 three-and-outs in 2010.

“They’re fast, physical, they play hard, they play through the whistle,” offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said. “A very, very well-coached defense.”

Arizona State’s 2-3 record is a bit deceiving as to the actual talent level of the team. The Sun Devils lost on a missed extra point to then 11th-ranked Wisconsin in Week 3, then led before falling 42-31 to third-ranked Oregon in Week 4. Last week, ASU lost by three to Oregon State. Three close losses to opponents that have been ranked at some point this year indicate a squad that will keep the game close.

It will be a big week for the Huskies offense, which needs to prove that its performance against USC was not a fluke. ASU has yet to give up 200 yards rushing to a team in 2010, while UW has eclipsed that plateau just once, last week against USC. Look for the Huskies to try to establish the run game with Jake Locker and Jesse Callier to the outsides before letting Chris Polk take over up the middle.

The game is a big test for the Huskies and a pivotal one in terms of the overall success of the season. UW plays Oregon State, Arizona, Oregon and Stanford in its next four games, so a win will go a long way in terms of determining if the Huskies end up in a bowl game.